Major League Soccer’s awards season has begun. On Thursday, the league unveiled the finalists for an array of honors, from Assistant Referee of the Year to MVP. Voting was split among three groups -- MLS players, club technical and front office staff and the media.

The league’s Best XI will be unveiled Nov. 26, but in the meantime here’s a look at the contenders for the major prizes:

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

To be announced: Nov. 29 The favorite: Wondolowski is a shoo-in. The 29-year-old forward tied the MLS single-season scoring record with 27 goals and tallied 11 game-winners. The danger he created in opposition penalty areas also opened up space for fellow forwards Alan Gordon and Steven Lenhart, who enjoyed career years. Wondolowski will be the sixth American to take home the league’s highest individual honor. The snub: Incredibly, no member of the glamorous L.A. Galaxy was nominated for an individual award. Forward Robbie Keane probably should have been. He was brilliant this year, especially after returning from the European Championship, and tallied 16 goals and nine assists for team that fought back from last place in the Western Conference. While Henry counters with 15 goals and 12 helpers, it’s worth noting that Keane had six game-winners -- twice as many as the Frenchman -- and that Keane scored seven against playoff teams compared to Henry’s two.

DEFENDER OF THE YEAR

The favorite: SKC’s defense finished the season ranked third in MLS history -- which should give Besler the edge. He was more consistent than Collin (who was benched for a couple games in September) and has risen from relative obscurity to a place on U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s radar with smart, technically-sound play. The snubs: German veteran Arne Friedrich played an immense role in helping the Chicago Fire return to the playoffs for the first time in three years, not only with his own performance but with his ability to organize a defense featuring several young players. U.S. World Cup veteran Jay DeMerit has a gripe as well. He was back to his 2010 form as the second-year Vancouver Whitecaps improved dramatically on defense and qualified for the playoffs.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

The favorite: Bernárdez’s sturdy play for the Supporters Shield winners should give him the edge over Gspurning, who missed one-third of the season with an injury and Higuaín, who joined Columbus in August. The snubs: There are several, starting with Oscar Boniek García. The Honduran added a new dimension to the Houston Dynamo, stretching defenses with his incisive runs while Brad Davis pulled the strings from midfield. García had four goals and six assists this season. Patrice Bernier was a big part of the Montreal Impact’s respectable inaugural campaign, anchoring the midfield and sparking the attack with nine goals and eight assists. A case could be made that Friedrich should have been a candidate for this award as well.

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR

The favorite: They’re all talented, but SKC’s phenomenal defensive performance this year should give Nielsen the edge. The Dane’s goals-against average of 0.81 was second-best among regular starters behind Gspurning’s 0.77, but Nielsen didn’t miss a minute while the Sounders’ netminder played only 21 games. The snub: Real Salt Lake’s Nick Rimando never seems to get any love, but there must be something to his game -- he’s a regular national team call-up. His GAA of 1.03 ranked fourth among regular starters, and his penchant for the spectacular save makes him tough to beat.

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR

The favorite: It all depends on the individual voter’s criteria. Pontius was having an outstanding 2011 campaign before breaking his leg. He led D.C. in scoring this season. Gordon had a career season in 2012 after undergoing surgery last summer. He came back from injury and obscurity. Johnson wasn’t even in MLS in 2011 but overcame some personal issues and six months away from the sport to enjoy a 14-goal campaign. Which comeback is more impressive than the others? There’s no favorite here. The snub: What if the injury and recovery occur within a calendar year? L.A. Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez tore his ACL in January, returned to the field in late July and helped the Galaxy rebound from an awful start to finish fourth in the West and hit the postseason on a roll.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The favorite: It likely will be a close race between Berry, the stalwart central defender, and DeLeon, the skillful flank player who has been a playoff revelation for United. The award, however, is based on regular-season performance only, which might give a slight edge to Berry, DeLeon’s University of Louisville roommate. Berry started 28 games, scored three goals and played with uncommon maturity. The snub: FC Dallas’ Matt Hedges was finalist material, starting 23 games in central defense and performing well for an injury-riddled team. Mattocks was brilliant at times but hardly consistent.

COACH OF THE YEAR

The favorite: Yallop likely will get the nod for engineering San Jose’s rebound from a 14th-place finish overall last year to the 2012 Supporters Shield. With a couple of astute acquisitions like Bernárdez and midfielder Marvin Chávez along with a well-designed attack that made the most of the skills of Wondolowski, Gordon and Lenhart, Yallop engineered a squad that scored at a historic rate and won the Shield going away. The snub: It’s hard to argue with any of the finalists, but Frank Klopas deserves some credit for restoring a culture of success and stability in Chicago. An overhaul anchored by the acquisitions of Friedrich, Chris Rolfe and Sherjill MacDonald should make the Fire a playoff favorite next year.